Willy Gnonto messages Ilia Gruev after what Leeds United midfielder just achieved

Wilfried Gnonto will always be a Leeds United fan.

The Italian moved on from Elland Road this summer after four years in West Yorkshire.

Bursting into life in the Premier League as a teenager, things became more difficult after relegation and returning to the top.

Daniel Farke admitted a soft spot for the winger, but couldn't give him the minutes that he so desperately craved.

Gnonto joined Fiorentina on loan on deadline day, with an £18million option attached to the deal.

And despite moving on, he keeps a very close eye on all things Leeds, with Ilia Gruev his latest interaction.

What did Willy Gnonto say?

With the extended international break finally coming to an end, some of the final games were played on Tuesday.

Gruev was part of that with Bulgaria, captaining his country to a 2-0 win over Luxembourg in the UEFA Nations League.

Taking to his personal Instagram after the win, as well as taking the armband, the midfielder was delighted.

He wrote: "This one feels great."

The likes of Crysencio Summerville, Junior Firpo and Dominic Calvert-Lewin liked the post, with Gnonto also commenting.

His former teammate simply said: "Skip".

Why international break was huge for Ilia Gruev

It has been a gruelling six-months for Gruev at Elland Road.

Suffering an injury back in April, it took five months for him to return to some sort of footballing action.

That was in a 4-4 draw for the under-21s against Middlesbrough in September, only getting 12 minutes.

It took another couple of weeks to get to this break, and he's exploded into life and fitness with Bulgaria.

In four fixtures, he completed 90 minutes three times, as well as another 55 against Iceland.

While this win over Luxembourg was their first and only success of the break, it means so much more for Gruev, who is finally back doing what he loves.

Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be a clear path back into starting for Leeds, however.

Ao Tanaka has earned his spot again and has been sensational, with Anton Stach and Ethan Ampadu around him in midfield.

Even on the bench, there's Sean Longstaff raring to go and get a chance under Farke at Elland Road again.

It's been a long road, and while these were brilliant steps to take with his country, there's plenty more to prove.